The Struggle for the American Dream

From the 1950's, and up to as far as the 70's and 80's, people had real hope of achieving the American dream. To have a good life with a secure job and all the things needed to provide for our families. The opportunities were there, and these things were attainable if you were willing to work hard.

That same American dream seems so far out of reach for young families today. I worry about my children, and wonder what kind of life my grandchildren will have when they reach adulthood. How will they save for the future, and for retirement, when it takes all they earn for the basics? Getting a college education has become almost cost prohibitive. Even if you do go to college and incur that kind of debt, you may never make enough money to get out from under it.

I look back to when I started to raise my children and the Federal minimum wage was $3.10 per hour. That was over 30 years ago, and the Federal minimum wage today is only $7.25 per hour. We had our tough times, but I do believe that what it cost to live then was not so far out of sync with our wages. Granted there are additional costs today (such as cell phones & Internet) that we did not have. However, I know that for two people it costs over $120 per week to eat. I cannot imagine what a young family of four (or more) must pay today.

Unfortunately we have seen the high paying jobs and manufacturing leave our country, and not enough of them come back. We have become a country where a majority of the available jobs are in the service industry. Service industry jobs do not pay well - at least not enough to more than survive. Even if you work very hard, it is extremely difficult to keep up.

I am not sure what the answer is, but I do know that it can be a vicious cycle. As wages increase, the cost to produce increases. So the prices are increased, and then the wages end up not being adequate. Round and round it goes. Maybe we all need to want just a little less - companies do not need record profits, and perhaps we need to keep life a bit more simple.

It would be wonderful to once again see people have the hope of achieving the American Dream.



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